BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
Eighteen people have been arrested in Surrey, UK, after undercover police officers posed as female joggers to identify and intervene in cases of street harassment. The month-long pilot program called “Jog On”, launched by Surrey Police, sent plainclothes officers through known harassment hotspots during peak hours, aiming to spotlight a pervasive issue and offer tangible deterrence.
“One of our officers was honked at within 10 minutes,” said Inspector Jon Vale, who leads the force’s safer spaces initiative for violence against women and girls. “Then another vehicle slowed down, beeping and making gestures just 30 seconds later — that’s how frequent it is.”
The undercover runners were supported by specialist units ready to intervene when harassment occurred. While catcalling is not a criminal offence in itself, it can escalate to more serious behaviour, and police say even low-level incidents can deter women from exercising safely in public.
Vale noted that nearly half of women surveyed in one part of Surrey had experienced harassment while running, yet most never reported it. Off-duty officers and staff members themselves reported frequent catcalling and lewd comments.
Catching harassment in real time
The pilot was modeled on previous plainclothes operations in nightclubs and town centres that aimed to spot and disrupt predatory behavior. In this case, officers donned running gear and blended into public spaces. “We want to manage that risk early,” said Vale. “Even if something isn’t criminal, it can have a huge impact on someone’s everyday life.”
PC Abby Hayward, one of the undercover officers, described the pilot as an opportunity to confront what many women face daily. “This behaviour is either a precursor to something more serious, or it’s ignorance and it’s fixable,” she said. “That’s where our interventions come in: to stop potential repeat offenders or help people understand that what they’re doing isn’t OK.”
In some cases, officers educated offenders about antisocial behavior. In others, especially where harassment was repeated or more severe, arrests were made.
Education or enforcement?
While 18 people were arrested, police say the operation wasn’t only about punishment. “For repeat offenders or where the behaviour is more serious, we will robustly pursue all criminal justice outcomes,” Vale said. “But we also believe there’s room to intervene early and educate.”
The pilot is part of a growing recognition that protecting public space must include protecting women’s ability to safely access it. Other UK police forces have piloted similar methods, such as the Metropolitan Police’s buddy system with women’s running clubs.
Why this matters far beyond Surrey
The issue is far from isolated. A 2023 University of Manchester study found that over two-thirds of women in northwest England reported experiencing harassment while running. Threats, verbal abuse, and even having objects thrown at them were common. Many said they no longer bother reporting incidents to the police, seeing it as part of daily life.
Another study from Sport England found that almost three-quarters of women altered their exercise routines in the winter months to avoid potential harassment.
For Vale and his team, the undercover operation is about reshaping public behavior and restoring safety. “This is a significant worry for women and girls, and we’ll continue to patrol running routes,” he said.
Their message is clear: Everyone deserves to feel safe going for a run.
